No TV?

[burstroman]

Are there any others like me who do not own a television? People think it's strange.  I hope I'm not the only here.

[m1469]

I used to not own a television.   But I was taking a break from the world in general during that time  .

Anyway, sometimes I still think about getting rid of it, but I find it useful when I teach my studio classes, as well as for other movies and things.  I don't think it's weird though, and I understand the desire to be without one.

[lisztisforkids]

I have a TV, but rarely watch it. When I do watch it I only watch the History channel and cartoons.. People think thats strange..

[jas]

Good for you for not having one. A lot of people become sort of mindlessly addicted to TV, I've noticed. They watch it out of habit, just it for the sake of watching it, whether they're interested in what they're watching or not. I once lived with a girl who came home from work and just watched TV all night. There was literally nothing else she was interested in enough to do.
I watch very little TV. If you don't like football, soaps, reality TV and DIY programmes there's not much else to pick from!

Jas

[arbisley]

I used to be a bit like that: watch TV just because I thought there was nothing I could do. It's very addictive, but once you get rid of it you think:"gawd! am I happy I don't waste my life in front of TV any more!"

I usually watch the news, some films particularly during the summer when they have better ones, but that's it, and sometimes I even get sick of the news and think that later on I'd rather read newspapers and choose what I want to read rather than having it forced down my throat!

[quantum]

I'm not into the whole reality thing.  Yes a lot of the stuff now on TV I find a bit strange, so I don't watch as much as I used to. 

Sometimes you go to another person's house for a party or something and they have like 3 TV's on all the time.  It's like they have a party to watch TV!!! This really annoys me.  I mean can't you just shut off the tube for a couple hours to talk with family!

I mostly watch Discovery channel plus wherever CSI or any other law shows are on.  I like to watch movies more than TV shows.  Picking up on some of the artistic merits on the construction of a film could be put towards music. 

[leucippus]

I own a TV but I don't have an antenna or cable or anything, not even rabbit ears.

I only use it for watching VCR tapes and DVDs.  But even then they are almost always college lectures or similar educational programs.  I do have a lot of NOVA tapes and some Biography tapes.  But most of my tapes are educational lectures.  Mostly particle physics and mathematics. 

I have the Art of Violin and the Art of Piano videos too.

I would actually like to get more biography and art-related videos.  I usually have my head stuck in a calculus or physics book.

In any case, I can't stand commercial TV and I very seldom even watch movies, but I will on occasion.  Especially if someone buys one for me.     A friend of mine bought me the moving "A Beautiful Mind" and I love it.  I must have watched it 4 or 5 times already.  But I think it is an exceptional movie.

I also have the history of several famous scientists.

I listen to NPR radio to hear the terrible things that are going on in the world.  That's enough for me.  Plus they have good classical music.

So for all intents and purposes I don't "watch TV" in general.  I'd rather play the piano or violin.    Or study more physics. 

[nicco]

On my TV you will find Sports and Comedy. And the occasional piano concerto

[Nightscape]

I couldn't live without a TV.  However, I don't ever watch cable or satellite programming.  I use the TV to watch DVDs.

Film is one of the most stimulating art forms there are - a great film brings together picture, story, theatre, and music into a wonderful unity.  Of course, I'm not talking about the average summer blockbuster here.... films like Gerry and 2001 and Y Tu.

[wishful thinker]

We have loads of TVs but I honestly can't say when I last watched.  Maybe 2 or 3 months?  I don't have time 

[pianolearner]

SKY satellite TV revived my interest in watching TV. I mostly watch educational and financial channels like Discovery, National Geographic, History and Bloomberg. To me, a TV can be compared to windows in a house. I couldn’t have a house without windows even though I don’t spend hours and hours looking through them. But every now and again there is something interesting to see.

[zheer]

   TV is a luxury, you can live without one perfectly well, i guess when you have nothing to do and need to relax its  good to watch TV.

[tac-tics]

If I had it my way, I would have no TV in my house.

Well, one for DVDs and the occasional video game, but no cable and I would totally break the remote so no one could get to the FOX network on it.

[bella musica]

My family doesn't have a TV either.  We do have a DVD/VHS player though.

When I go to other peoples' houses and see stuff on TV, it just amazes me how transparent it is.  Whenever you watch anything on TV, all you see is what someone wants you to see.

[johnny-boy]

What, no TV!!!  You've got to be kidding. I would be so depressed.

But really; TV is a good avenue to escape to. I love happy, funny kind of shows like Coach, The Andy Griffith Show, MASH, and All in the Family. And this is a little embarrassing; but I watch the "Price is Right" every day. I work nights and “The Price is Right” is my daily alarm clock.

Give up TV? They’d have to kill me.

Best, John

[Motrax]

I don't watch TV unless my roommate turns it on. Last year I didn't have a TV in the room. I don't plan on owning a TV if I ever live alone.

[bella musica]

What, no TV!!!  You've got to be kidding. I would be so depressed.

But really; TV is a good avenue to escape to. I love happy, funny kind of shows like Coach, The Andy Griffith Show, MASH, and All in the Family. And this is a little embarrassing; but I watch the "Price is Right" every day. I work nights and “The Price is Right” is my daily alarm clock.

Give up TV? They’d have to kill me.

Best, John

I love Andy Griffith!  Barney is a riot!  We have the first 5 or so seasons on DVD and our whole family loves them!  Another old show we like is Hogan's Heroes.  Has anyone ever seen those?

[ada]

I only ever watch two shows: Media Watch and The Chaser's War on Everything. (Which will be meaningless to anyone who isn't an aussie).

Pretty much everything on cable is crap except Sky, CNN and BBC when there's a big breaking story, like September 11. That's when it comes into its own.

I seriously think people who watch a lot of TV have too much time on their hands.

[brewtality]

I only ever watch two shows: Media Watch and The Chaser's War on Everything. (Which will be meaningless to anyone who isn't an aussie).

why am I not surprised

Pretty much everything on cable is crap except Sky, CNN and BBC when there's a big breaking story, like September 11. That's when it comes into its own.

Those channels are so boring.

I don't watch much tv, never free to air unless it's summer and the cricket is on. On pay tv I just watch Ovation, Fox classics and Turner classic movies. Ovation is this attempted 'arts' channel which basically just consists of Maria Callas concerts, but occassionally they show a nice piano vid.

[berrt]

for me, it's much more fun with cable tv to not watch 33 channels, than do not watch only 5.

B.